SMRT Bus Service 985 is a trunk route between Choa Chu Kang Interchange and Lorong 1 Geylang Terminal, passing through Teck Whye, Bukit Batok West, Bukit Batok, Jln Jurong Kechil, PIE, Jln Toa Payoh and Boon Keng Road.
985
Direction 1: Choa Chu Kang Int → Lor 1 Geylang Ter ⇋
Direction 2: Lor 1 Geylang Ter → Choa Chu Kang Int ⇋
44009Choa Chu Kang Int NS4BP1Choa Chu Kang Loop
44539Lot 1/Choa Chu Kang Stn NS4BP1Choa Chu Kang Ave 4
0630-0830: 08 – 10 mins
0831-1659: 09 – 11 mins
1700-1900: 11 mins
After 1900: 11 – 12 mins
0630-0830: 09 – 10 mins
0831-1659: 09 – 13 mins
1700-1900: 10 mins
After 1900: 11 – 12 mins
Service 985 is an inter-town trunk route linking housing estates around Choa Chu Kang / Teck Whye, Bukit Batok and Jln Jurong Kechil with the Central areas of Boon Keng and Kallang, incorporating an express sector along the Pan-Island Expressway (PIE) between Jln Jurong Kechil and Jln Toa Payoh.
The route compliments Service 190 and 975 for the Choa Chu Kang – Teck Whye stretch and Service 188 for the Choa Chu Kang – Bt Gombak stretch. It also plies between Bukit Batok – Jalan Toa Payoh along the PIE, providing a slightly longer alternative route for passengers who would otherwise rely on Express 506.
Demand for this route remains moderate throughout the day and operates at generally low frequencies, with comparably higher demand during peak hours. Double-Decker bus deployments started since 13 Jul 2015, and articulated buses do appear on the route once in a while.
Choa Chu Kang Road (Blk 26) → Choa Chu Kang Int Weekdays/Sat: 0520hrs, 0535hrs, 0550hrs, 0605hrs Sun/PHs: 0530hrs, 0545hrs, 0600hrs, 0615hrs
Fare: Charges basic distance fares. See Bus Fares.
Gallery:
SMRT Buses Poster for Relocation of Choa Chu Kang Bus Interchange
Service 985 – SMRT Buses Mercedes-Benz OC500LE (SMB74Y & SMB76S)
SMRT Buses Volvo B9TL (SG5133E) – Service 985
SMRT Alexander Dennis Enviro500 (SMB5067K) – Service 985
SG1038Z on 985 – SMRT Buses Mercedes-Benz Citaro in full SBS Transit base livery
SMRT Buses Mercedes-Benz OC500LE (SMB68R) – Service 985
SMRT Mercedes-Benz OC500LE (SMB108J) – Service 985
SMRT DAF SB220 (TIB700X) – Service 985
DAF SB220, Walter Alexander Setanta bodywork
Operator History:
2003 – 2004: Trans-Island Bus Services Ltd
2004 – Present: SMRT Buses Ltd
The Bus Service Operating License (BSOL) for this route will be renewed in 2023 under the Choa Chu Kang – Bukit Panjang Bus Package.
History:
2003 (27 Jul): Introduced after the merger of Services 185 and 989, running between Choa Chu Kang Int and Lor 1 Geylang Ter.
2006 (30 Apr): Amended to serve Bt Batok West Ave 5 & 7 instead of Bt Batok Rd & Bt Batok West Ave 7. Deleted sector between Bt Batok Rd & Bt Batok West Ave 7 was re-introduced as Service 985W on 15th Oct 2006, but subsequently withdrawn on 13th Oct 2007.
2012 (15 Nov): Designated wheelchair-accessible bus route (WAB)
Wrong impression that there are just as many double-decks on this fleet as single decks. May not be sufficient to meet demand. Compared to some 15-20 single decks, 4-5 DDs operate on this route on weekdays (SG5428, SG5429, SG5430, SG5823, SG5825), . Any 2 of the of the 5 on Saturdays and none on Sundays and PHs. A very peculiar arrangement. Is the company trying to save on diesel?
Wrong impression that there are just as many double-decks on this fleet as single decks. May not be sufficient to meet demand. Compared to some 15-20 single decks, 4-5 DDs operate on this route on weekdays (SG5428, SG5429, SG5430, SG5823, SG5825), . Any 2 of the of the 5 on Saturdays and none on Sundays and PHs. A very peculiar arrangement. Is the company trying to save on diesel?